Average length of an investigation

Susan Hall: What is the current average length of an investigation for the following crime types:
•Homicide
•Rape
•Other Sexual Offences
•Robbery
•Hate Crime

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service have provided the information as attached to this response. Please ensure that the notes page is read to aid in interpretation – including the caveat that the averages have been calculated following outliers being removed.

The Mayor: 4964_Average Length of Investigation.xlsx

Strip search apology

Caroline Russell: On 24 January 2022, The Guardian reported that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) apologised and paid compensation to Dr Koshka Duff for the: “sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language,” officers directed at her while she was strip searched at Stoke Newington Police station in May 2013. Could you explain why an apology was not given for the strip search itself?

The Mayor: I strongly condemn the derogatory and sexist actions towards Dr Duff. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are right to have apologised for this appalling incident.
In 2018, the police sergeant faced allegations he had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to the strip search of a woman arrested in Hackney in May 2013. A misconduct hearing led by an independent legally qualified chair found that the officer had made several attempts to engage with the complainant and were satisfied that he had reasonable grounds to justify his actions in authorising the search. The panel found the allegations not proven and the officer retired from the MPS in 2019.
In November 2021, the MPS settled a civil claim brought by Dr Duff and sincerely and unreservedly apologised to the complainant for the language used while she was in custody and any distress caused.
A review was undertaken following the civil claim; this was referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards for assessment. A public complaint was also received and a voluntary referral was made to the IOPC who have since declared an independent investigation.
The IOPC new independent investigation relates to the comments made in the custody suite and not the strip search element itself as this has already been independently investigated.

Borough Healthy Streets funding (3)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/4860. Could you confirm the planned and actual allocations to boroughs by financial year since the start of the programme for: a) Liveable Neighbourhoods, b) Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Majors, c) Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Corridors, d) Crossrail Complementary Measures, e) Borough Cycling, and f) Streetspace, and other short-term funding?

The Mayor: The budget for Transport for London (TfL) funded borough schemes in 2020/21 was c£100m, and boroughs have submitted all claims. The forecast spend for TfL-funded borough schemes in 2021/22 – is approximately £66m - including Local Implementation Plan schemes, Crossrail Complementary Measures, Borough Cycling, Borough Bus Priority and a number of air quality and renewals schemes. The full breakdown by borough and programme is in the attached Appendix.
The level of funding reduced in 2021/22 due to the significant impact of the pandemic on TfL’s finances, and the short-term nature of government funding settlements impacting its ability to plan ahead for investment.

The Mayor: MQ 2022-1015 TFL REDRAFT.xlsx

BCU Domestic Abuse teams

Unmesh Desai: At the meeting of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on 2 February 2022, Commander Sue Williams referred to the fact that some basic command units (BCU) have dedicated teams tackling Domestic Abuse whilst others do not, and cited this as a reason for the differences in the use of Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Notices across London. How many BCUs in London have dedicated domestic abuse teams or units? If possible, please identify those who do and those who do not.

The Mayor: All 12 Basic Command Units have a Community Safety Unit (CSU) whose core activity includes investigation of domestic abuse crimes.

Technology to tackle disability hate crime

Unmesh Desai: We were told at a recent meeting of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee that a new technology was being developed and disseminated to frontline officers dealing with disability hate crime. Please can you provide information on how many officers this technology has been rolled out to and how many officers have been trained in using it for the purposes of dealing with disability hate crimes.

The Mayor: The technology referred to is the new CONNECT system, an integrated core policing solution that is the largest IT transformation project the MPS has ever undertaken. The system will be used by the majority of MPS officers and staff, including those on the front line dealing with hate crime, and many external partners.
The system offers a searchable, joined-up information service that will better support intelligence gathering, investigative processes and the ability to support victims.

Policing in Lewisham (3)

Len Duvall: How many weapon enabled personal robberies have been screened out across London in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 so far? Please provide a borough by borough breakdown.

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service have provided the requested information as appended to this response. Please ensure that the supplied notes are read in conjunction with the data to aid in the interpretation of the information.

The Mayor: 4245_Policing in Lewisham Park.xlsx